Canelo defends 168-pound belts with win over Munguia

Canelo Álvarez remains king at 168.

Álvarez successfully defended his undisputed super middleweight championship with a unanimous decision victory over fellow Mexican Jaime Munguia at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Judges scored the bout 117-110, 116-111, and 115-112 in Álvarez's favor.

It's Álvarez's fourth consecutive defense of his super middleweight belts since he became the first undisputed champion at 168 in 2021.

"I'm glad I give Jaime this opportunity," Álvarez said post-fight, per DAZN. He's a great guy, (a) great champion. He's gonna continue doing good."

Munguia, who suffered his first loss in 44 professional fights, started the bout strong and may have even taken one of the first two rounds. But by Round 4, the tide had turned, as Álvarez began to hammer Munguia's body. Near the end of the fourth, Munguia was knocked down for the first time in his career.

Munguia hung tough down the stretch but was unable to gain any ground on Álvarez, who seemed to be toying with his opponent at times. When the final bell rang, the result was inevitable.

"I came out well. I think at the beginning I was winning some of those rounds, it was going well. I let my hands go," the 27-year-old Munguia said. "But he's a fighter with a lot of experience, obviously.

"He beat me. Unfortunately, he beat me. It definitely hurts."

Álvarez landed 234 total punches during the fight to Munguia's 170.

"He's a little slow, I can see every punch," Álvarez said, according to ESPN's Mike Coppinger. "Sometimes he caught me because I got too confident."